NVIDIA Adaptive VSync Technology

Vertical sync (VSync) was developer to tackle image tearing which can occur when the game's frame rate is higher than the display's refresh rate. In the old days of CRTs, refresh rates were as high as 85 Hz, but LCD monitors that we use today have a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz. Hence, the need for VSync when frame rates exceed 60 frames per second (fps).

However, VSync introduces its own problem - stuttering, which occurs when the game's frame rate drops below 60 fps. Even if the game frame rate drops a little to just 58 or 59 fps, the actual frame rate will to drop to 30 fps because the GPU has to wait for the next VSync interval to display that frame. This causes a visible stutter that is very distracting.

To tackle this problem, NVIDIA is introducing the Adaptive Vertical Sync (or Adaptive VSync) technology in the Release 300 drivers. What NVIDIA Adaptive VSync does is dynamically turn VSync on and off to minimize stuttering. VSync is enabled if the frame rate is 60 fps or higher, but once the frame rate drops below 60 fps, VSync is automatically disabled, allowing the frame rate to display at its natural rate. VSync is renabled when the frame rate returns to 60 fps (or higher). The end result is a smoother frame rate.

Frankly speaking, this feature isn't very useful for the GeForce GTX 680, unless you intend to run TXAA on it. Most gamers will definitely prefer to maintain their frame rates at 60 fps or higher, even if it means "settling" for FXAA instead of TXAA. NVIDIA Adaptive VSync would better serve NVIDIA's lower-end graphics cards, which are really the cards in danger of delivering frame rates below 60 fps. The Release 300 drivers are currently limited to the GeForce GTX 680 graphics card but should eventually be released for the older NVIDIA graphics cards.

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